People have posted threads about Michael Finley being a Free Agent, but I wanted to reiterate how great of a pick up this could be potentially for the Spurs. The guy can still play. While he isn't an All Star anymore, he would challenge Barry and Devin (If we re-sign him) for minutes.

Does anyone know if he has shown interest privately to perhaps playing for the Spurs ?

Now that we our deep at the 4 and 5, I think it would be nice to get some help at the 2 an 3.

DALLAS -- As much as the Dallas Mavericks appreciate what Michael Finley has done for their franchise, simple economics make it likely they will soon say goodbye to their longtime leader............

.........The bright side for Finley is that he would get to pick his next team -- perhaps reuniting with Nash in Phoenix, where he began his career until being traded to Dallas for Jason Kidd, or maybe returning to his hometown, Chicago.

Finley is still a good player. If you sign him, you're not signing him for what he did in 1996. You're signing him because he's a veteran who can still shoot the ball.
No one would have wanted to sign Big Dog for the same reasons, but I thought he was an OK pickup. Players who have never played defense suddenly learn how to when they are on a team with a good defensive foundation. And it's no accident.
I'm not sure if Finley would be the kind of player who could crack the regular rotation, but I wouldn't mind seeing him here.

Finley is still a good player. If you sign him, you're not signing him for what he did in 1996. You're signing him because he's a veteran who can still shoot the ball.
No one would have wanted to sign Big Dog for the same reasons, but I thought he was an OK pickup. Players who have never played defense suddenly learn how to when they are on a team with a good defensive foundation. And it's no accident.
I'm not sure if Finley would be the kind of player who could crack the regular rotation, but I wouldn't mind seeing him here.

did you actually watch the suns-mavs series? finley was terrible in that series as a starter (with the exception of game 2). so what makes you think less playing time will make him better.
go back and look at finleys shooting % for the playoffs, he is done. he faded against the suns scoring 11, 9 , 7, 7 in the last 4 games playing around 32 mpg. please show me how he is not done

I personally think he would be an excellent option. You have to remember that you are evaluating his past performance as a starter. If he comes off the bench, he will be fresh and give more of his all for that time that he is on the floor instead of having to save his energy for the rest of the game. Almost what Horry does for the Spurs in the playoffs as he pretty much coasted during the regular season.

I don't know how he would match up in terms of comparing to Barry or Devin, but he would be a great bench player that spells Devin if he does leave. Besides, he is still an excellent shooter and immediate scorer who just happens to shoot a high FT%. That sounds good to me for the min. It could be a possibility since he is a local resident of Texas although I could see him going to the Suns.

As other have said he won't come here over a combination of playing time and $, but the Spurs should still lob him a phonecall. He's not nearly what he once was, but he's still got some game left in him. If for some unforseen reason he did want to come here for vet min it's a no brainer to pick him up.

did you actually watch the suns-mavs series? finley was terrible in that series as a starter (with the exception of game 2). so what makes you think less playing time will make him better.
go back and look at finleys shooting % for the playoffs, he is done. he faded against the suns scoring 11, 9 , 7, 7 in the last 4 games playing around 32 mpg. please show me how he is not done

Maybe he played too many minutes during the season (36.8 MPG)? I wouldn't go and say he's done. He!!, people thought Big Dog was done, yet he was useful. Last year statically was Finley lowest scoring average (15.6 PPG) since 96-97 (15.0 PPG). Hey, this was even Timmy's lowest scoring average (20.3), of the season since he's been in the league. Does that mean he's washed up?

I agree if we have the opportunity to sign him, it's a no brainer. IMO

Maybe he played too many minutes during the season (36.8 MPG)? I wouldn't go and say he's done. He!!, people thought Big Dog was done, yet he was useful. Last year statically was Finley lowest scoring average (15.6 PPG) since 96-97 (15.0 PPG). Hey, this was even Timmy's lowest scoring average (20.3), of the season since he's been in the league. Does that mean he's washed up?

I agree if we have the opportunity to sign him, it's a no brainer. IMO

I agree also. I think you have to give Finley a little slack because he did have a few nagging injuries last year that really hampered him. And as we all know, injuries sometimes affect a player in terms of basketball shape and how they perform. It all depends on the player but I know for a fact he was going through some hamstring and ankle injuries during the year and near the end of the year too. You can't say that it didn't have some effect on him.

no scola has a different agent, oberto has the same agent as manu herb rudoy (I believe thats his name) as for finely i just find his game at this stage of his career too similar to barry, and would take a healthy devon over finely at this stage of his career and there is no way all three of them will be on the roster, finely wants to play.

I don't know that Finley and Bowen would be fast friends given their on-court past... ( although Fin would likely love to never be defended by Bruce again. ) As far as him going back to Phx or Chi-town, that sounded like the AP writer's speculation, not Finley's.

He had serious ankle problems all last season and had surgery when the season ended. Expect him to have much more bounce in his game than he did last season no matter where he is. He's definitely better than LJIII and Devin Brown. He'd be a great pickup to spread the defense.

Money isn't really an issue. He's still getting that 51 million regardless. It's not like that just barely makes it to feed the children.

He'll likely go to a team that has a good chance of winning. Phoenix is a very probable place.

If, which is very unlikey, he became a Spur, the team would benefit greatly from him coming off the bench. He's very dependable and is a good free throw shooter. And his defense is atleast decent, and if you stick him in a good team defense, he can do fine. Ask Glen Robinson about that one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bossu

I'd rather have James Posey though. I'm beginning to warm up to the idea of Posey becoming Bowen's apprentice.

A year + player option left for him though. Only through trade can we get him. I don't think its impossible if you dangle Nazr, which Spurs likely won't want to pay the big money he should get offered(unless they trade Rasho-don't want to pay two centers more than 5mill a year).

"When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at this rock perhaps 100 times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the 101st blow, it will split in two and I know it was not that blow that did it. But all that had gone before." - Jacob Riis

If a player of Finley's caliber comes along, you make the effort to get him. No questions asked. Even if his "caliber" isn't quite what it used to be. He was at one time one of the NBA's most deadly shooters.

And due to the new CBA's one time amnesty rule, if you can pick up a max contract player for only a couple $million, you do it.

Ask yourself this.......late 4th quarter....Duncan is struggling, Parker cannot get in the lane or penetrate.....Barry is shooting bricks.....Manu ican't do it all by himself....Spurs can't hit the broad side of a barn.......would it not be nice to have a Finley making things interesting?

Spurs have a good history of taking good players at or near the end of their career and maximizing their productivity.

You really think Finley is going to accept a role off the bench? Don't think so.

Finley's never been an egotistical twit, and only an egotistical twit assumes they will be a starter their entire career. I'd be surprised if he didn't acknowledge that he's old in NBA terms. I think overall, Mike is a smart enough guy to "get over himself."

If a player of Finley's caliber comes along, you make the effort to get him. No questions asked. Even if his "caliber" isn't quite what it used to be. He was at one time one of the NBA's most deadly shooters.

Ask yourself this.......late 4th quarter....Duncan is struggling, Parker cannot get in the lane or penetrate.....Barry is shooting bricks.....Manu ican't do it all by himself....Spurs can't hit the broad side of a barn.......would it not be nice to have a Finley making things interesting?

Spurs have a good history of taking good players at or near the end of their career and maximizing their productivity.

which is why i am baffled to see that Glenn Robinson is still not signed. He is a much better scorer than Finley and showed flashes of what could be if he has an entire season to get used to his new team.

which is why i am baffled to see that Glenn Robinson is still not signed. He is a much better scorer than Finley and showed flashes of what could be if he has an entire season to get used to his new team.

Does Robinson even want to stay? I'm sure Spurs haven't seen enough of him to give him anything too big. And then after July 22nd, when people can be signed, more things will make sense.

"When nothing seems to help, I go look at a stonecutter hammering away at this rock perhaps 100 times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the 101st blow, it will split in two and I know it was not that blow that did it. But all that had gone before." - Jacob Riis

which is why i am baffled to see that Glenn Robinson is still not signed. He is a much better scorer than Finley and showed flashes of what could be if he has an entire season to get used to his new team.

I don't know how much Big Dog is asking, but he probably can get a $5-7-9 million dollar contract, somewhere. Ask yourself: How much would Isaiah Thomas overpay for him?

Whereas Finley......we could sign for the minimum (Since he'll be drawing a check from Dallas still)

Plus, Finly can create his own shot better than Big Dog, who's more of a Barry type spot up shooter.

the same people saying Finley is washed up are probably the same guys who thought Horry was washed up, thank god the spurs FO didn't listen to you 2 years ago.

just how many big shots or championships does finley have again?
fins washed up, no way would I compare him to Horry

I actually thought Horry was way over used by PJ his last year in LA. he played 40+ his last season in LA compared to ~36 by finley. I really liked the idea of the Spurs getting Horry and was only disappointed when Horry faded in 04.